HomeSchool Alert, NJ, Cosmetology Board Postpones Decision on Homeschooled Graduate's License

HSLDA | 03.15.04

[Coleus]

New Jersey--Letters Needed--Cosmetology Board Postpones Decision

Dear HSLDA members and friends:

On Tuesday, March 9, the New Jersey Cosmetology Board postponed a decision whether to allow homeschool graduate Laura Byrne to take the cosmetology examination she needs for her license.

Sherrill Byrne, Laura's Mom, spoke to the Board for about twenty minutes and carefully explained the high school program that Laura had received. She even offered the Board four years worth of lesson plans.

Although the Board certainly had enough information to decide on the spot to allow Laura to take the test, they postponed their decision.  The Board indicated they would decide after she finishes cosmetology school (about April 15).
Phone calls in support of Laura poured into the Cosmetology Board office so fast on Monday that the receptionist could barely answer them. The Board knows that thousand of homeschoolers across the state are watching!

Action Requested:

Please write a letter to the Cosmetology Board in support of Laura. Our E-lert of March 8 contains background information you may use in your letter. Letters to the Board before their next meeting in April will remind them that we are not dropping this issue. Mail your letter to:

 

"Laura Byrne has successfully completed high school in a homeschool
setting.  Homeschooling is the legal equivalent of public or private
school.  Hundreds of colleges and professions have accepted
homeschool graduates without requiring a GED.  A GED tells the world
that you did not finish high school.  There is no just reason to deny
Laura her right to take the cosmetology exam."

 

Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling

P.O. Box 45003
Newark  NJ 07101

We are trying to establish contact with individual members of the Board.  If you know any of them personally, or how to contact them individually, please let us know immediately.  They are:

Ms. Kathleen M. Alexander,
Ms. Patricia Graffin,
Mrs. Frances Gray,
Mr. Peter Macri,
Mr. Carlo Melini,
Mrs. Rose Policastro,
Mr. Joseph Santagata,
Mr. Ronald J. Brown,
Ms. Elaine C. Haroldson, and
Ms. Lynn Rasiewicz

Here is some e-mail info. but it seems the HSLDA would rather have written letters go directly to the Cosmetology PO Box.

E-mail consumer affairs

Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling

 

Telephone: 973-504-6200
Toll free complaint line: 800-242-5846 (NJ residents only)  Fax: 973-273-8035 TDD: 973-504-6588

Background:

After graduating from high school in a homeschool setting last summer, Laura followed her dream and enrolled in a cosmetology school.  Out of an abundance of caution, she asked the board that governs cosmetologists to confirm that her homeschool education would be satisfactory toward receiving a license to practice cosmetology.  To her shock and dismay, Executive Director Richard Griswold told her she would have to get a GED.

At the family's request, HSLDA stepped in to help this member family. Over the course of the next several months, HSLDA sent numerous letters to Griswold, and the Byrnes sent may documents to support their case:  the diploma itself, a full high school transcript, letters of recommendation from her teachers in cosmetology school, a transcript of her cosmetology grades (which were excellent), and even letters from satisfied customers. 

Griswold was unmoved.  He sent two more letters reiterating that the board would accept nothing less than a GED.

HSLDA prepared a formal legal memorandum explaining in detail why the board should allow Laura to take the exam, and prepared affidavits from the family.  On Monday, March 8, HSLDA asked members all across New Jersey to call cosmetology board members and ask them to treat
Laura fairly. 

By the end of the day, a ray of light appeared.  Griswold and his attorney placed a conference call to HSLDA attorney Scott Woodruff.  They explained that no final decision had yet been made-or could be made, because Laura had not yet formally applied to take the exam.  She could not, in fact, until after her graduation in April, he explained.  Though he made no commitment, the general tone of the conversation was definitely more conciliatory than the previous correspondence.

Only time will tell whether this is the light at the end of the
tunnel or the flash before the door slams shut. Laura and her family are deeply grateful for all the homeschoolers across the state who have stepped in to help her in this moment of need.

New Jersey law requires "successful completion of high school or its equivalent" in order to be licensed as a cosmetologist. Laura has met this requirement.

Thank you for standing with us for freedom.

Sincerely,

Scott A. Woodruff, Esq.
HSLDA Staff Attorney

[Coleus]

I bet she is smarter than the board members.

[Coleus]

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[Igraine]

I wouldn't worry too much about this. A lot of these bureaucrat types simple don't know what form to fill out in these cases so they stall or reject the application out of hand. Once they get a letter from the student's lawyer explaining what the law is and how it applies to them, they usually act decently.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Although I support homeschooling 100%, one thing keeps coming to mind when I read this story.


"Beauty School dropout. Go back High School." /Grease soundtrack.

[Betteboop]

LOLOLOL...my thoughts exactly.
BTW, who taught her cosmetology? Homeschoolers can learn the 3 R's, but I wouldn't want them standing over my head applying color!!

[patriot_wes]

"Griswold was unmoved. He sent two more letters reiterating that the board would accept nothing less than a GED"

A little Hitler so in charge of his personal kingdom.

[nmh]

I bet she's smarter than ANY cosmetologist in NJ. Maybe she ought to consider a higher paying occupation.

[wita]

It appears you and I both fell for the deceptive title and poorly written article. I had to read it more than once to devine the fact that her high school education was through home school, but she actually attended cosmotology school, as I understand it.

[ladylib]

This is bad enough, but look what they are making homeschoolers in NY go through:

http://hslda.org/Legislation/State/ny/2004/BoardRegentsDraftRegulation/default.asp

[SuziQ]

BTW, who taught her cosmetology? Homeschoolers can learn the 3 R's, but I wouldn't want them standing over my head applying color!!

The cosmetology school taught her! She had already successfully completed most of the program, she just wanted to make sure things were going to be on track to graduate. I frankly think it's silly NOT to let her have her license; she's already demonstrated that she can do the work. Her teachers in the cosmetology school seem to agree, it's only the educrats who are giving her trouble.

BTW, homeschooling doesn't mean that her Mama taught all her subjects! We h/sing parents either teach subjects that we know, we find someone who can teach them, or the kids attend Community colleges, or local 4 yr. colleges to take classes such as Biology, Chemistry or Physics if they need specific labs. Sometimes, the kids teach themselves! I don't know from Japanese, but my daughter has been teaching herself through Anime without subtitles, Manga in Japanese only, and textbooks from the Japan Language Association, which I purchased for her. She's learning faster than two of her friends who are tutored once a week by a native speaker.

Most of the problem is people who have not yet encountered homeschoolers and don't understand the nature of the situation. It will just take some education to get them in the groove! ;o)

[Betteboop]

I'm not knocking homeschooling---the article gave the impression that she wanted to be tested in Cosmetology which she learned at home. Now it makes sense....I'm not a blonde for nothing.duh..................

[mvpel]

Abolish the Cosmetology Board and every other government licensing agency like it. Nobody should have to beg the government for the right to earn a living.

[HungarianGypsy]

This has nothing directly to do with this particular subject, but my hairdresser was saying that it's illegal to cut your own (or family's hair). It sounds like a bit of manure to me, and I have found nothing online. Wondered if anyone knew if there is a speck of truth to this at all.

[JoeFromSidney]

This has nothing directly to do with this particular subject, but my hairdresser was saying that it's illegal to cut your own (or family's hair). It sounds like a bit of manure to me, and I have found nothing online.

When I was an undergraduate some of the guys in the dorm were cutting other guys' hair for pay. This is against the law (at least in Ohio). The University made them quit, since they didn't have barbers' licenses. I guess the U. could have gotten in trouble if they hadn't acted once they became aware of this violation of the law, but it did seem kind of picky to me.

[Coleus]

I don't know, it may be against some state health codes, I know in NJ barbers need a license from the dept. of health to open a business, cutting at home, I'm not sure.

[cupcakes]

I don't know about that. My best friend is an accomplished colorist--she is one of the best out there. She could easily make over 100K as a consultant for a coloring company like Clairol, but she had children early and opted to stay in her area, but still makes 50-75K a year(and this is the type of income in her area that you could be a one income family on easily) just coloring and styling people's hair. She is super talented and has a had a book of clients for years, some that drive a couple hours to see her. Hell, I have a hard time finding a stylist myself now(I live in another state) because I miss my friend who I could trust implicitely with my hair.
If this gal has the love for this and the talent, she can do quite well for herself. Some folks in that industry aspire to do more than work for Supercuts at the local strip mall and have the talent to take them beyond that.

[cupcakes]

Well, they better break out the cuffs because I will continue to cut my husband and son's hair. My friend I mentioned taught me how to weild the clippers and what areas to make sure are trimmed up like sideburns and the back of the neck and such and I do a pretty darn good job of it, plus my 4 yr old son would have hair growing to the middle of his back if we had to take him to a regular barber. he's autistic and not fond of the clippers or stranger's touching him.

[Kuksool]

I don't see what's wrong with making home-schoolers get a GED. Having a GED should remove any doubt about the competency of the home-schooler.

[ladylib]

Homeschoolers generally look at GEDs as something a drop out would get. They don't want to be considered drop outs.